TOMORROW is the start of Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17, 2024). Disparities between BIPOC and white maternal and infant health in the US are despicable. We are trying to do something about it by increasing access to doula care for BIPOC families with our Birth Equity Fund. Bri, a doul on our team, shares about our work in her interview with WOOD TV 8. Visit the Birth Equity Fund page to learn more about the fund and to donate!
Read MoreApril lands us right in the middle of World Doula Week and International Doula Month. So what better time to share how grateful I am for the doulas in my life? I'm feeling especially grateful for how doula support has impacted my own journey, and especially honored to be part of a team of incredible women here at Sprout & Blossom who care so deeply for the birth community. I just want to take a moment to gush over them and share the love with anyone who reads (including those of you considering adding doula support to your own team…I highly recommend).
Read MoreThis labor was progressing beautifully when the mother announced she could suddenly feel something between her legs. Surprise! It was baby’s sweet little feet! No one was expecting baby to be born breech — but footling breech birth is indeed a variation of normal and can often be managed vaginally when given the opportunity. Here, the birthing person’s team supports her through this variation of normal with calm confidence. With shared wisdom from the midwife and internal wisdom from mama and baby, all unfolded beautifully. Enjoy this beautiful birth story in images!
Read MoreWhen financially planning for the growing family, there’s so much to consider beyond the baby registry. Four years into parenthood, I’m creating the guide I wish my spouse and I had been given during those early stages of financial planning. While this guide is not entirely comprehensive, it is a great launching point for some big considerations.
Read MoreThere are so many sweet firsts to savor when baby arrives! Among my favorites? Baby's first bath. With my firstborn, I had envisioned placing her into our cute little whale tub we had — the baby bath with a mesh sling — for a gentle little sponge bath. But I quickly discovered a much cozier alternative, for both baby and me: bathing together! Read on to learn why and how I shared baby’s first bath — and watch a sweet little video clip, too!
Read MoreDo you relate to that mixed bag of thankfulness and overwhelm upon receiving an influx of gifted toys? A solution to toys piling up around the home, throughout the holidays and beyond: Toy rotation! You know that burst of excitement a child has upon receiving a new toy? They dive in, play hard, get lost in their own imagination…until an hour or a day or a week later, they’re over it. Well, it turns out there’s a cure for that, too: Toy rotation!
Read MoreSprout and Blossom Botanicals will be at three markets this fall! We’d love to see you there. Check out all the details below or on our Events page.
Read MoreIf your preschool or school-aged kids love doing puzzles, this post is a must-read. I stumbled upon a puzzle hack that I’m excited to share.
Read MoreI knew Laila's arrival would be much more flexible than any given date, but I held onto her due date in an extra special kind of way throughout all of my pregnancy; November 15 was the date of my beloved Grandpa's passing, and I loved the thought of him ushering my baby from his realm to mine. But as the day went on, I really didn't think labor was going to set in on Laila's due date. I began thinking I should pick out a new "due date" to help get through the sludge of waiting (I waited 9 days past 40 weeks with Evie!)…
Read MoreAs we talked through our experiences with our first birth and our anticipations for our second, one thing became clear: having a quick-guide on the fridge to reference these reminders would be very helpful for us! It would help me:
reflect more comprehensively on my labor wishes (writing things out is a great way to prepare!),
trust that my partner will recollect what I’ve asked for (because he can take a quick look at the sheet on the fridge anytime!),
and give me permission to drift off to labor land when the time comes (peace out, mental load! Time to turn off my thinking brain!).
Did you know that the uterus is arguably the STRONGEST muscle in the human body!? Not to mention the fact that it’s an organ that grows an organ (the placenta) that sustains the life of a whole new human…NBD, right? Actually, we think it’s friggin awesome, and we’re here to fan-girl over it. The uterus fulfills so much incredible work in order to grow and give birth to a baby. Let’s take a closer look at how the uterus muscles its way through labor…
Read MoreWe are celebrating the launch of our new and improved Sprout & Blossom Botanicals products and our Birth Equity Fund!
Join us Saturday, December 10 from 4-6pm at The Arts Marketplace (at Studio Park, downtown Grand Rapids)
Read MoreIt’s that time of year! You know, the time when you pull up that list on your phone and wonder whaaaat the heeccck to gift your friends & family for the holidays. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with classy, consciously-crafted goodies your loved ones (and you!) will appreciate this Christmas and beyond.
Read MoreAnnica Quakenbush, birth doula at Sprout & Blossom, is certified by and in-network with TRICARE Military Insurance. This means that those who have TRICARE Military Insurance can submit their receipt and receive reimbursement for our doula support services. Please contact us if you have any questions!
Read MoreI had a client ask today about belly support - she is approaching her third trimester and starting to feel the heaviness and soreness that often comes with a growing baby and growing uterus. Here is some information about the products I recommended to her!
Read MoreParents-to-be and veteran parents alike are bombarded with all kinds of ads for baby. I found myself overwhelmed by choice overload with Baby #1. What would I actually need? When it came down to it, much of what was on our registry for Baby #1 we rarely (or never…) even used at all. So with that, I give you: What I gathered in anticipation of my firstborn, what we actually used, what we added to our collection, and what we never used at all — and how our previous experience is impacting our preparation for Baby #2.
Read MoreIn this blog post, I’m sharing context from our journey through pregnancies, why we had chosen *not* to do a genetic screening earlier in this pregnancy, and why we had chosen to have an anatomy scan last week, when I was 22 weeks pregnant.
Read MoreIt’s so important to understand and exercise your rights in birth! Let this list linger in your mind as you consider where and with whom to give birth; that most beautiful, transformational experience of a lifetime! And, rest assured, quality doula care will only enhance your experience, including informational, physical, and emotional support.
Read MoreLast month, May 2022, marked 3 consecutive years of being pregnant with or nursing my precious firstborn! A major accomplishment I hold dearly. There are times when I have felt my best when nursing my child. And there are times when I have felt my worst. It's a journey full of beautiful highs and challenging lows.
Read MoreOnce in a while, I (Annica) like to share some of my favorite Amazon finds that make my life feel a little simpler and let’s be real, more aesthetically pleasing. So, here is my list of essentials for a simple sunny summer with tiny humans.
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